TREND ALERT - PEP HEMS

Peplums have been everywhere for the past few seasons, and although I can't deny that they are so chic and glam, they just aren't for me. For my frame I do have quite wide hips and I'm not in a rush to draw attention to them, don't want no thunder thighs on the loose now do we?

But there is an updated version of Peplum that is slowly filtering through, which is much more my bag - it's the PEP HEM. The Pep Hem is just the peplum but lower, instead going around the bottom hem of a skirt or dress, or around a dropped waist, instead of being just above the hip. The reason I love it so much is that they perfectly balance out broad shoulders and hips, creating quite the slimming effect, while putting the figure into proportion.

So, as nice as I am, I am sharing with you some of my favourite Pep Hem dresses so you can get ahead of the fashion pack and pick up one of these fab little numbers.

So which one is your favourite - I'm seriously pining for the squirrel print number from Topshop, it is so adorable!

Hope your weekend has been fantabulous!

Gems x

I'M ARMED!

I'm one of those girls that doesn't wear a lot of jewellery, it is all just a little bit too girly for me - it makes me feel too feminine I think and my inner tomboy rebels. But my mind is swaying a little bit with the emergence of stacked bracelets - it takes away the overly ladylike feel of jewellery and gives it a tougher edge, which is something I can get on board with (if I can get said bracelets to stay on my matchstick wrists that is).

Image Courtesy of Refinery29

I love how heavily stacking bracelets can transform a pair of jeans and a simple white tee into a statement outfit that is uniquely you thanks to you combination of bracelets and bangles. I have styled you up a few looks to show you what I mean - the first is something that I would definitely go for, ripped jeans, slubby tee, pair of leopard flats and tons of tough, punky jewellery.

Spike Stretch Bracelet, OASAP; Multi-level Spike Bracelet, Romwe; Gold Tone Spike Bangles, River Island; Gold & Cream Spike Bracelet, Matalan.
Curve Hem Tank, Topshop; Ripped Denim Turn Up Jean, New Look; Rivet Embellished Flats, OASAP.
Verna Studded Rubber Bracelet, Missguided; Cross on Chord Bracelet, Topshop; Peace Charm Bracelet, Tesco; Silver Cuff; H&M; Studded Wrap Bracelet, New Look.

The second look I went for was just a little bit boho, with kick-flare jeans, simple cropped tee and lots of boho, hippy chic arm candy...It's not something I would usually go for, but I have to admit that I love it, once my self imposed spending ban ends on my birthday (6th of July peeps, just a week to go), I am going to go bangle bonkers!

Gold Peace Sign Cuff, River Island; Thread Wrap Bracelet, Miss Selfridge; Gold Love Bangles, River Island.
Button Crop Top, Topshop; Firetrap Blue Jenni Flare Jeans, New Look; Vintage Openwork Wrapped Wedges; OASAP.
Floral Printed Bracelet, Romwe; Leather Woven Bangle Pack, River Island; Sequinned Bangles, New Look.

What do you think of the stacked bracelet trend? Do you love it as much as me?

In the spirit of trying new things, I couldn't let you go without showing you a picture of my first ever Creepers - awesome online brand OASAP kindly credited my account with $10 so they went straight towards an amazing pair of their creepers. I went for the Casual Leopard Lace-up Creepers in the stunning green shade, I seriously can't wait for them to arrive - thank you OASAP, expect an outfit post soon!

Gorgeous OASAP Creepers.

I hope all my UK friends survived the storms yesterday - it was scary huh?

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Gems x

TREND ALERT - FESTIVAL!!

While festival season has come to an end for all my Aussie lovelies, it is just set to begin over here in the UK, which means the shops are filling with the most amazing head wear, distressed denim and light summer parkas.

Over the previous few years, festival fashion has become a trend in its own right, no longer being confined to the muddy fields of the British countryside. I won't be attending any festivals myself this summer - one of the benefits of working for yourself means that you are perpetually poor :) - but, I still be rocking the festival style in the concrete jungle taking some inspiration from these Hollywood hotties at California's Coachella Festival.

Diane Kruger, Emma Watson an Kate Bosworth

Kristen Stewart, Dita Von Teese and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

I've took a little crack at styling the festival trend as I would wear it out on the streets (not in the night walker way), so I haven't went over the top on bare leg, animal prints and over-sized hats - the streets of Newcastle are very different from the sweaty, body filled fields of the West Country :)

1.) Denim Blue Cap, H&M; Tie Neck Maxi Dress, Topshop.
2.) Beaded Collar Backless Playsuit, Romwe; Leopard Print Socks, Forever 21; Skull Head Black Flat Shoes, Romwe; Heart Broken Ring and Glitter Cross 2 Finger Ring, Punky Pins.
3.) Soft Feather Earrings and Candy Stripe Gilet, New Look; Pleated Dip Back Skirt, Topshop; Shoes, H&M.
4.) Grecian Disc Headband, New Look; Something Else Splice Strap Dress, General Pants; Biker Wellington Boots, Barratts.
5.) Neon Hart Studded Biker Jacket, General Pants; Mint 90's Print Dress, Miss Selfridge; Backback, Romwe.

So how did I do? What do you guys think of the festival trend?

Gems x 

GET CREEPY!

It's time to get a little bit creepy this season, as 'Creepers' are set to be the hottest shoe style of the season. The platform sneakers come brogues are all kinds of awesome, they can be worn with just about everything - I just wish they had made it onto my fashion radar sooner, because I am in love!

Jamie King, Rihanna and Jessie J rocking the Creepers!

 I may not be an expert but this is how I would get creepy (by which, I mean style my Creepers, not stalking around alleyways and such).

Get your creep on!

• Outfit 1: Round Pearl Earrings ($12.99) and New Style Valentine Earring ($10.99), both Romwe; Isla Dobby Mesh Dress $79.99 Forever New; Underground Exclusive Rosegold Triple Sole Painted Creeper $202.75 ASOS.
• Outfit 2: Agent Ninetynine Floppy Fedora $49.95 General Pants; Dipped Hem Silk Shirt $69.99 Forever New; Subtitled Catwoman Pants $79.95 General Pants; Black Suede and Leopard Cow-hair Low Sole Creeper $75.00 TUK Shoes.
• Accessories:  Miranda Satchel $49.99 Forever New; Piece Zammi Necklace $30.82 ASOS; Punk Style Retro Black Bag $76.99 Romwe.
• Outfit 3: Neon Hart Long Biker Vest $129.95 General Pants; Neon Hart Tartan Zip Pant $69.95 General Pants.
• Outfit 4: Splicing PU Belted Cream Shift Dress $38.99 Romwe; Cable Over-The-Knee Sock $12.99 Forever New; ASOS Monroe Platform Creeper Shoe $121.65 ASOS.

Creepers are my shoe of the season, as they can be styled to almost any trend (although they will look especially fly with the modern grunge trend I'm crushing hard on) - go girly and boho with floral prints, go punk with skinny jeans and leather, or go glam with floaty fabrics - in fact do whatever you feel like, it will still be fashion, well-done!

NOTE: All Romwe prices are in US Dollars.